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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. T. HALL.

GAR COUPLING. N0. 328,584. P atented 001;. 20', 1885.

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B. T. HALL- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CAR COUPLING.

Patented 001;. 20, 1885;

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UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ENOS T. HALL, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE A.

' HIGHFIELD, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

GPBCIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,589, dated October 20, 1885.

Application filed June 11, 1885. Serial No. 168,337.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, ENos T. HALL, of Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gar-Couplings; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvementsin the construction of carcouplings, as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation; Fig. 2, a top plan view of my improved coupling devices. Fig. 3 is a side view showing the coupling as applied.

Similar letters in the several figures indicate the same parts.

A A represent buffers applied to the end of the draw-bar A, and provided with sockets and pins, as in ordinary coupling-bars, for the reception of a link-coupling, if from any cause it should become necessary or desirable to employ the same.

Situated above and resting upon each of the buffers A is a coupling-hook, B or B, constructed and applied in the following manner: The draw-bars A, provided near their forward ends with a shoulder, a, pass under or through the end timbers or sill of the car, and are supported to slide thereon in any suitable manner. The coupling-hooks or draw-heads B B are each pivotally connected on a horizontal plane to the end of a rod, 12, passing through the shoulder a on the draw-bar A, said rod 1) being extended rearwardly through the plates 0 O, the latter provided with bearings c c, riding in slots in the sidepieces, G which are secured to the longitudinal timbers or other part of the car-body. Between the plates (3 O is arranged a spring, 0 preferably embracing the rod 1), to which latter is also secured a nut, 12, or like adjustable collar at a point in rear of the plate 0.

As thus constructed and applied, the spring 0 serves not only to hold the head of the bolt 1) and its coupling-hook or draw-head back (No model.)

against the shoulder a of the draw-bar A and I in position for coupling, but it also operates to receive the thrust of the draw-bars and the pull of the coupling-hooks or draw-head, as in either case one of the plates 0 0 being supported by its lugs at the extremity of the slots in the side pieces, 0, will resist the movement of the spring in either direction.

The coupling-hooks or draw-heads B B are each formed with a rearwardly-projecting and curved engaging-point, d, and correspondingly-curved throat d. The coupling-hook or draw-head B rests normally upon the upper surface of the buffer A,with engaging-pointd projecting above, whereas the draw-head B is arched or curved and has its point (2 projecting downward and in position to ride over the opposite point until both points cl pass each other and enter the throat d of the opposite draw-head, and are thereby held securely in engagement. By pivoting the draw-heads B B, as described, and uniting them by the curved hooks, I am enabled to securely and readily couple and hold together cars of different heights.

In order to properly direct the couplinghook or draw-head B into position above the draw-head B, and to prevent lateral displacement of the hooks after coupling, suitable guide-plates, D, may be arranged on the sides of the draw-head B.

For the purpose of uncoupling the drawheads B B, I mount a shaft, E, in bearings e, and connect the arm E attached thereto to the draw-head B, whereby the latter can be elevated by the movement of said shaft.

The shaft E extends to one or both sides of the car, and is provided with a handle or hand -53s, E, and said shaft is movable longitudinally in its bearings e.

Secured to the side of the car and in proximity to the handle or handles E is a catch or retaining plate, E and by moving the said shaft endwise until the handle engages one of the projections or shoulders on said plate E the draw-head B may be held elevated or depressed, as desired.

In order to insure the proper engagement of the draw-heads, and to retain them in position, a spring, f, may be attached to the arm E, so that its outward or free end shall stand above and in position to engage the drawhead B when elevated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In combination with the buffers A, and the draw-bars providedwith shoulders 11 upon their upper faces, the coupling-hooks or drawheadsB B,with curved interlocking and engaging points and throats d d, located above the buffers, the rods d, to which the said couplinghooks are pivoted, passing through perforations in the shoulders a and extending in rear' the rods passing through the draw-bars and 7 extended beyond the shoulders thereon and above the buffers, springs applied to said rods to hold the latter retracted, and the verticallymovable interlocking coupling-hooks or drawheads sustained on pivots attached to the rods and above the buffers, one of said couplinghooks being arched and held above or at a higher level than the opposite hook, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the vertically-movable coupling-hooks or draw-head B, engaging the opposite coupling-hook, B, the shaft E, provided with spring f, arm E, and connecting-chain, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination with the pivoted coupling-hook B, the longitudinally-movable shaft E, for elevating said coupling hook, said shaft carrying the handle Efland the retaining-plate E, for engaging said handle, as and for the purpose set forth.

' ENOS "I. HALL. Witnesses:

JOHN E. GRAGG, FRANK P. AMSDEN. 

